Hot Topic Alert – Source of Income as a Protected Class

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Posted on June 1st, 2017 by Danielle Capriato00

More than four decades after Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, fair housing issues remain critical to the pursuit of strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities. As the law develops, new issues are brought into focus. One such issue is the source of a would-be tenant’s income.

Traditionally, landlords look for tenants who are gainfully employed, but there are many lawful sources of income that could pay for a lease. Alimony, disability payments, public assistance, and child support all provide recurring income.

New laws seek to eliminate discrimination based on the legal source of a tenant’s income. Some go even further, and bar income discrimination for real estate purchases. These articles examine the evolving state of the law on this issue.